Push buttons for switches



y 1962 J. R. BAILEY 3,047,700

PUSH BUTTONS FOR SWITCHES Filed April 12, 1960 INVEN- JAMES R BAI'L ATTO R NEY atent @fiiee 3,047,700 Patented July 31, 1962 3,047,700 PUSH BUTTONS FOR SWITCHES James R. Bailey, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Switchcraft, ,Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 21,692 3 Claims. (Cl. 200-172) This invention relates generally to improvements in push buttons for switches or the like, and has particular reference to an improved push button adapted to be held frictionally upon the blade of a switch.

The improved push button according to the present invention is characterized by a substantially cubical shaped hollow body member with four lands extending longitudinally of the body member and diagonally inward from the interior corners of the hollow body member. The ends of these lands are spaced a distance as measured in directions parallel to the transverse axes of the body member corresponding substantially to the thickness of the blade of the switch, so as to maintain the blade in alignment with a transverse axis. Other lands extend longitudinally of the hollow body member and inward of the side walls thereof, and between the aforementioned diagonally extending lands, so as to be in alignment with the transverse taxes of the hollow body member. The distance between an aligned pair of these last mentioned lands is slightly less than the width of the switch blade, these last mentioned lands being adapted to engage the edges of the blade and hold the same frictionally while the first named of the lands glide the blade. The hollow body member is preferably molded from an elastically deformable material, and the frictional engagement of the lands with the edges of the switch blade is such as to deform the sides of the hollow body member slightly, and impose better gripping action upon the edges of the switch blade. Preferably, the hollow body member has the sides thereof formed on an are so that the deformation thereof, while in such frictional engagement with the switch blade, is not readily apparent.

The push button according to the present invention is thus capable of being oriented in 90 degree apart positions if desired, and if the push button is provided with intelligence thereon, such intelligence can be viewed properly even though the apparatus upon which the push button is mounted is moved to diiferent 90 degree apart positions. If desired, the push button can be drilled and tapped so as to hold it to the switch blade by means of a screw tapped therein, such holding being in addition to the holding by the frictional engagement of the lands.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved push button characterized by being able to be oriented in any one of several 90 degree apart positions, without the need of making adjustments thereto.

Another object is to provide a push button which can be molded of an elastically deformable material, which button is capable of being held frictionally to the conventional switch blade in any one of desired 90 degree apart positions.

Yet another object is to provide a push button adapted for mounting on a conventional switch blade, the means for holding the button to the blade not being visible to the user.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparent from a study of the specification following, taken with the drawing, which together describe and illustrate a number of preferred embodiments of the invention and what are now considered to be the best modes of practicing the principles thereof. Other embodiments may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein, and such other embodiments are intended to be reserved especially if they fall within the scope and spirit of the subjoined claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an improved push button according to the present invention, said view showing the button mounted in position upon a conventional switch blade and in operative relationship with a panel;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the push button seen in FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken diagonally thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section, to an enlarged scale taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, certain parts being shown in plan;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view through a multiple cavity mold wherein the push button according to the present invention can be molded;

FIG. 7 is a perspective View showing part of the upper chase of the mold seen in FIG. 6, showing the configuration of a male portion thereof for forming the interior of the push button according to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the push button according to the present invention.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the improved push button according to the present invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 and includes a hollow body member 11 adapted to be held frictionally to a switch blade 12. The body member 11 may be formed with an integral flange 13 adapted to bear against the interior face of a panel board PB, or the like, so as to prevent the removal thereof from the switch blade 12. As seen in FIG. 1 the body member 11 has a concave surface 14- adapted to be engaged by the fingers of an operator, the surface 14 being provided with suitable intelligence thereon if desired.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2 to 5 of the drawing, the hollow body member 11 has lands 16 which extend diagonally inward of the interior corners 17 thereof. The lands 16 have the ends 18 thereof spaced a distance as measured in directions parallel to the transverse axes x-x and yy an amount corresponding to the thickness 2 of the switch blade 12. The spacing of the ends 18 of the lands 16 thus maintains the switch blade 12 in alignment with a transverse axis x-x or yy as seen more particularly in FIG. 5.

The hollow body member 11 is also provided with lands 19 extending longitudinally of the hollow body member and inward of side walls 21 thereof, the lands 19 being disposed between the diagonally extending lands 16 and substantially in alignment with the axes x-x and yy. The distance between the ends 22 of the lands I9 is slightly less than the width of the switch blade 12, and a pair of aligned lands 19, 19 are thus adapted to engage the edges of the blade 12 and hold the same frictionally therebetween at the ends 22 of the lands 19. As seen in FIG. 5, the previously described diagonal lands 16 thus serve to guide the sides of the switch blade 12 while the edges thereof are thus frictionally engaged.

As seen in FIG. 2, the exterior of the side walls 21 are formed on a radius, so that when the switch blade 12 is engaged between the lands 19, 19, the distortion of the side wall 21 will not be obvious. The provision of the curve in the side wall 21 before the push button 10 is placed upon the blade 12 thus makes distortion of the side wall 21 less obvious when it is placed on blade '12.

Referring now to FIG. 6 of the drawing, the push button 10 can be for-med in a multiple cavity mold 25. The mold 25 comprises a lower chase 26 and an upper chase 27, lower chase 26 having cavities 28 therein conforming t the exterior configuration of the hollow body member 11, the cavities 28 being connected by sprue passages 30. The upper chase 27 is provided with a fluted male member 29 as seen in FIG. 7. The fluted member 29 conforms to the configuration of the interior of the hollow body member 11 of the push button as seen also in FIG. 8 and has longitudinally extending slots 31 therein conforming to the configuration of the lands l9, and longitudinally extending diagonal slots 32 therein conforming to the configuration of the diagonal lands 16.

The fluted member 29 is also formed with intersecting slots 33 near the lower end thereof, these being continuous with the slots 31. These last named slots 33 form intersecting boss-like extensions 34, see also FIGS. 4 and 5. As seen in FIG. 4, such a boss 34 may be drilled and tapped as at 36 for a set screw, not shown, adapted to engage the side of the switch blade 12.

From the description foregoing, it will be evident that there has been provided an improved push button switch capable of being molded from any suitable elastically deformable plastic material, and capable of being held frictionally upon the switch blade of a push butt-on switch or the like in any one of 90 degree apart positions. The improved push button can be held frictionally to the switch blade, and may also be held by means of the conventional screw tapped thereinto. In one form of the invention, if desired, the flange 13 can be dispensed with if there is no requirement that the push button be prevented from being easily removed from the switch blade.

While the invention has been described in terms of a number of embodiments thereof, its scope is intended to be limited only by the claims here appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a push button adapted to be supported on the blade of a switch, a hollow body member including a walled cavity which is substantially symmetrical to transverse axes intersecting said body member, the walls of said cavity having lands extending longitudinally thereof and diagonally inward into said cavity, the distances between the ends of said lands as measured in directions parallel to one of the transverse axes of said body mem ber being substantially equal to the thickness of said blade so as to maintain the blade in alignment with the other of said transverse axes, the walls of said cavity having other lands extending longitudinally thereof and inward into said cavity and between said diagonally extending lands and substantially in alignment with the transverse axes of said hollow body member, the distance between an aligned pair of said last named lands being slightly less than the width of said blade, said last named lands being adapted to engage the edges of said blade and hold same frictionally while the other of said lands guide said blade whereby said push button can be placed on said blade in 90 apart positions.

2. In a push button adapted to be supported on the blade of a switch, a hollow body member including a walled cavity which is substantially symmetrical to transverse axes interseoting said body member, the walls of said cavity having means extending longitudinally thereof and diagonally inward into said cavity, the distances between the ends of said means as measured in directions parallel to one of the transverse axes of said body member being substantially equal to the thickness of said blade so as to maintain the blade in alignment with the other of said transverse axes, the walls of said cavity having other means extending longitudinally thereof and inward into said cavity and between said diagonally extending means and substantially in alignment with the transverse axes of said hollow body member, the distance between an aligned pair of said last named means being slightly less than the width of said blade, said last named means being adapted to engage the edges of said blade and hold same frictionally while the other of said means guide said blade whereby said push button can be placed on said blade in apart positions.

3. In a push button adapted to be supported on the blade of a switch, a hollow body member including a walled cavity which is substantially symmetrical to transverse axes intersecting said body member, the walls of said cavity having means extending longitudinally thereof and diagonally inward into said cavity, the distances between the ends of said means as measured in directions parallel to the transverse axes of said body member being substantially equal to the thickness of said blade so as to maintain the blade in alignment with the other of said transverse axes, the walls of said cavity having other means extending longitudinally thereof and inward into said cavity and between said diagonally extending means and substantially in alignment with the transverse axes of said hollow body member, the distance between an aligned pair of said last named means being slightly less than the width of said blade, said last named means being adapted to engage the edges of said blade and hold same frictionally while the other of said means guide said blade, whereby said push button can be placed on said blade in 90 apart positions, and a flange extending from said body member and preventing removal of said push button from said blade when mounted thereon and extending through an opening in a panel board.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 638,789 Wood Dec. 12, 1899 1,815,165 Scofield July 21, 1931 2,269,208 Kimball I an. 6, 1942 2,652,470 Batcheller Sept. 15, 1953 2,855,229 Winslow Oct. 7, 1958 

